RT Journal
A1 Fitzgerald M, Cameron P, Mackenzie C, et al
T1 TRauma resuscitation errors and computer-assisted decision support
JF Archives of Surgery
JO Archives of Surgery
YR 2011
FD February 1
VO 146
IS 2
SP 218
OP 225
DO 10.1001/archsurg.2010.333
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archsurg.2010.333
AB Hypothesis
This project tested the hypothesis that computer-aided decision support during the first 30 minutes of trauma resuscitation reduces management errors.Design
Ours was a prospective, open, randomized, controlled interventional study that evaluated the effect of real-time, computer-prompted, evidence-based decision and action algorithms on error occurrence during initial resuscitation between January 24, 2006, and February 25, 2008.Setting
A level I adult trauma center.Patients
Severely injured adults.Main Outcome Measures
The primary outcome variable was the error rate per patient treated as demonstrated by deviation from trauma care algorithms. Computer-assisted video audit was used to assess adherence to the algorithms.Results
A total of 1171 patients were recruited into 3 groups: 300 into a baseline control group, 436 into a concurrent control group, and 435 into the study group. There was a reduction in error rate per patient from the baseline control group to the study group (2.53 to 2.13, P = .004) and from the control group to the study group (2.30 to 2.13, P = .04). The difference in error rate per patient from the baseline control group to the concurrent control group was not statistically different (2.53 to 2.30, P = .21). A critical decision was required every 72 seconds, and error-free resuscitations were increased from 16.0% to 21.8% (P = .049) during the first 30 minutes of resuscitation. Morbidity from shock management (P = .03), blood use (P < .001), and aspiration pneumonia (P = .046) were decreased.Conclusions
Computer-aided, real-time decision support resulted in improved protocol compliance and reduced errors and morbidity.Trial Registration
clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00164034